Exclusive premiere of Doombo’s self-titled EP. It’s the first studio production of the band, tracked and recorded at the drummer’s home studio and mixed by sound engineer Alessandro Perosa.

Formed in 2022 the band’s lineup of BUSS drummer Ivan Kralj, bass player Ivan Rongione and guitarist/singer Pablo Scarpa felt the need to write its own material right from the start. They discovered they had a mutual appreciation of stoner doom music in particular, as reflected in the four songs of this EP, featuring influences from bands like Sleep, Black Sabbath, Boris, Mastodon, Melvins and The Sword. The whole EP was recorded on tape, which contributes to give the record a vintage vibe. Low-tuned fuzzy riffs, roaring bass tones and the powerful drum playing makes Doombo a mixture of influences ranging from classic rock to doom metal.

On July 15th they’ll be playing their first gig opening at StonerKras festival alongside Nick Olivieri’s Mondo Generator, 1000 Mods and many more.

“Improvisation plays an incredibly significant role in our band”

Would you like to tell us how much work went into your debut EP?

Pablo Scarpa: The first studio experience is always a bit challenging for a band that has just started playing together, but we managed to navigate through the process and followed all the steps according to the timeline we set. Personally, this was the first significant studio recording experience of my career, and I must admit I felt a little nervous. However, the opportunity to play with such talented friends and amazing musicians truly made a difference.

We started playing together by jamming on stoner doom riffs, and it organically developed into an “autopilot” process. The main riffs were written by bass player Ivan Rongione, which served as a foundation for the songs. Then powered by the powerful grooves of drummer Ivan Kralj, and me contributing my guitar parts and vocals.

Would you like to talk a bit about your background?

Pablo Scarpa: As our band’s name suggests, we are avid stoner doom enthusiasts. However, our musical influences span a wide variety of genres and styles. In addition to this project, the three of us are also involved in other ventures, playing classic rock and rock ‘n’ roll. Since I was a kid, I have always aspired to play in a stoner band due to the sheer power of the riffs and the incredible guitar tones. Therefore, having the opportunity to join this band feels like a lifelong goal fulfilled for me.

When did you decide that you wanted to start writing and performing your own music? What brought that about for you?

It wasn’t a deliberate decision, but the first thing that came naturally to us was developing our own sound and material. I believe it largely stemmed from the individual need each of us had to play a genre that resonated deeply with our musical tastes. While we have all played covers here and there at jam sessions and in other bands, for us, it was always about having a great time and cranking up some good old amps.

What led to the formation of Doombo?

Pablo Scarpa: Drummer Ivan Kralj and I began jamming together in the evenings, and interestingly, every song we played seemed to naturally evolve into a stoner doom vibe. It became evident that we had to form a band together and unleash some heavy riffs. We were incredibly fortunate when Ivan Rongione joined the band; it marked a pivotal moment for us. His remarkable talent for consistently generating fresh riffs and ideas, coupled with his impressive technique, is truly awesome.

Can you share some further details on how your latest EP was recorded?

Our EP was recorded in our drummer’s home studio on an 8-track tape machine, which gives some cool flavour to the overall sound. We recorded the EP in four days, helped by our friends. During the session we did a really small amount of takes because we were busy grilling and having a good time.

Tell us about your gear, amps, effects, pedals…

Pablo Scarpa: When it comes to gear, our preference lies with traditional tube amps and vintage equipment. During the recording process, we achieved our desired guitar tones using a 1986 Marshall JCM 800 and a 90’s JMP Plexi. On my pedalboard, I have a collection of effects from brands that I endorse and collaborate with, including Jam Pedals, Beetronics, Ceriatone, TC Electronics, Electro Harmonix, and OPFXS. The primary guitar I utilized throughout the entire EP is my beloved Gibson Les Paul Custom, which I purchased from Norman’s Rare Guitars in California.

Ivan Kralj: The drums on the EP are 70s Tama Superstars, the snare drum is custom made and the cymbals are all paiste that I collected through the years.

Ivan Rongione: Most of the bass tone is achieved with a Boss Blues Driver and an Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Big Muff Pi into a late 90s Mesa-Boogie Buster Bass 200 head. I like to keep my amp tone moderately clean, controlling distorted tones through pedals.

How important is improvisation for the band?

Improvisation plays an incredibly significant role in our band, as we primarily consider ourselves a jam band. Each song originates from a jam session before rehearsals, where intriguing musical ideas begin to emerge as we play and gather inspiration. All of us are accustomed to improvising, as we frequently participate in local jam sessions. This familiarity with improvisation enhances our ability to create and explore new musical territories during our sessions.

Are any of you involved in any other bands or do you have any active side-projects going on at this point?

Yes, all of us are involved in some other bands and projects. Drummer Ivan Kralj is also playing with BUSS. Bass player Ivan Rongione plays in The Jazz Dealers and also has some solo projects. Guitar player Pablo Scarpa helps a lot of local bands with his amazing guitar skills and plays in a band called Greeting from Honolulu.

What are some future plans? Are you planning to play some shows?

In fact we haven’t searched a lot for the future as we were busy with the EP. But we won an open call for a local festival called StonerKras.

Are you excited to play on July 15th at StonerKras festival alongside Nick Olivieri’s Mondo Generator, 1000 Mods and many more?

Playing at StonerKras is something we look forward to. It represents a double achievement for us, as it provides not only the opportunity to perform in an incredibly cool environment but also marks the band’s first live concert. The pace at which things have progressed for us has been quite incredible. Moving from rehearsing together to recording an EP, performing at festivals, and creating the music we love is something we didn’t anticipate when we first started. We feel fortunate and grateful for the exciting journey we’ve embarked upon.

Let’s end this interview with some of your favorite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?

Ivan Rongione: Regarding the stoner/doom genre I’m mostly in love with the classics: Sleep’s ‘Holy Mountain,’ ‘Houdini’ and ‘Stoner Witch’ by Melvins and, of course, ‘Vol. 4′ by Black Sabbath. I also enjoy a lot of drone/dark ambient music like Boris, Natural Snow Buildings or early Tangerine Dream. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Kali Malone, drone synth and pipe organ player, who also has an album with Stephen O’ Malley from Sunn O))).

Pablo Scarpa: At the moment I am listening to ‘Emergency on Planet Earth’ by Jamiroquai and ‘Fresh’ by Sly and The Family Stone.